Arsenal have expressed an interest in Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa (AMA/Getty)
Arsenal are considering a move for Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa, according to reports.
The Premier League champions are already targeting a deal to sign Morgan Rogers this summer, although Villa are demanding a £130 million transfer fee for theEngland international.
Konsa, meanwhile, has established himself as a key figure in Unai Emery’s side having initially joined in a £12m deal from Brentford seven years ago.
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal hold a ‘tentative interest’ in Konsa but the Gunners have not submitted an offer to Villa.
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The report adds that Villa would demand a £60m fee for Konsa, who has two years remaining on his contract, and their valuation would be viewed as too high by Arsenal.
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Mikel Arteta is also said to be driving Arsenal’s interest in Konsa, who has started every game for England at the World Cup this summer.
Aston Villa v Liverpool - Premier League
Aston Villa are demanding a £130m transfer fee for Morgan Rogers (Getty)
Speaking earlier this week, Ollie Watkins hailed Konsa, who he plays alongside with for both Villa and England, as one of the best central defenders in the Premier League.
‘I think Ezri is just so underrated,’ Watkins told talkSPORT.
‘It’s mad how under the radar he goes and for so many years he has been.
‘I think he’s one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. People don’t look at that straight away.
‘I don’t know if it’s profile around Villa and stuff like that. People always look at the top teams. But defensively, he hardly puts a foot wrong. I think one v one, he played there.
‘I remember we played against Brazil and Vinicius Junior couldn’t get past there. He’s so solid. He can play right-back and obviously his main position is centre-back. But if he does play there, I’m fully confident he can bring more than a job.
‘He can go and really excel there and make it really tough for top-class wingers to get past him.’
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